Marshalltown police prepare for immigration demonstrations

Marshalltown police are preparing for demonstrations Saturday from two groups expressing opposing views on immigration policy. Marshalltown Police Chief Lon Walker says a Latino group organized out of Des Moines will demonstrate and the other group is made up of members from area veterans groups.

Walker says the plan is the Latino group will use the courthouse square and will not be allowed on the sidewalk or street. Walker says the other group will be on the other side of the street on the sidewalk with police officers in the middle between them to “a clear buffer zone to prevent any kinds of confrontations.”

Chief Walker will be coordinating the security efforts with his department and the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office. He says they don’t anticipate any problems, but Walker says “you never know what can spin off from these kinds of situations, because emotions run high on both sides.”

Demonstrations are scheduled to start around 10:30 A.M. Saturday morning and last until about 1:30 P.M.